Amata wins DGN Presidential election

Lucky at his third attempt for the post of President, Directors Guild of Nigeria (DGN), and filmmaker Fred Amata finally clinched it on Saturday. Amata polled 48 votes to defeat his fellow contenders – Kingsley Omoefe (7), Dickson Iroegbu (3), and Lancelot Imasuen (43). He will preside over the affairs of the Guild for the next two years.

The election climaxed the three-day session of the Guild at the Tourist Resort Hotel, Asaba, Delta State. To set the stage for the election the DGN president and filmmaker, Andy Amenechi, on Thursday night, passed the baton to an electoral body that took over the tension-filled atmosphere.

Delegates had gathered for three days at the popular Tourist Resort Hotel & Suites, Asaba, Delta State, for the voting exercise which was preceded by an Annual General Meeting, Unveiling of DGN Electoral Committee (DGNEC) members and manifestos on Thursday.

Other positions contested for in the election are Welfare Office, Public Relations Officer, National Secretary, Director of Finance and Assistant Secretary General. While other offices fielded unopposed contestants, the welfare office was contested between Prince Isaac Kola and Dan Chukwueze; the vice presidential position between Mike Ogundu and Okey Zubelu.

The hotel was a beehive the manifesto proved huge debate as candidates pruned their responses to questions to just two minutes.

And just few minutes to the elections, Dickson Iroegbu announced his withdrawal from the race, sparking a brief uproar. Iroegbu then tried to announce his support for a particular candidate but was not allowed to. He then publicly told The Nation that he would want his supporters to back Fred Amata.

“The truth of the matter is that I was not in the race for some selfish reasons,” he said.

“It was about the Directors Guild of Nigeria and the entire Nollywood. That was why my campaign was centered on Nollywood rebirth.

“But I observed the desperation being expressed and being a candidate who has interacted with other aspirants, I decided to make a sacrifice for DGN. Yes, I’ve stepped down, not because of any inducement, not because of any horse trading but because we are not politicians.

“This is a professional Guild. So I have to make the sacrifice as part of my intention to serve. I have to step down so that the bickering could subside. And get someone whom most of us can say we’ve made a good choice. This is not a political decision but one that is good for the Guild I want to represent as president, “Iroegbu said.

On who he would want his supporters to vote for as DGN president? Iroegbu said; “considering the presentations made by us, I have sensed that supporting Fred Amata will be better.”

While some delegates pitched their tent of loyalty with their candidates based on ‘indebtedness’ , others voted with their conscience on the ground of conviction and performances during the manifestos and debate sessions.

Earlier, the candidates had been asked about their disposition should they lose?

“I will not lead DGN by proxy,” said Dickson, “I will not abandon a child I was part of his conception,” said Imasuen, “We’ll will work together no matter what,” said Omoefe, while Amata said, “The four of us will come together to move the Guild forward.”